| US 7,537,596 B2 | ||
| Bone plates with intraoperatively tapped apertures | ||
| David G. Jensen, Troutdale, Oreg. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Acumed LLC, Hillsboro, Oreg. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jun. 21, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/873,522. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/480529, filed on Jun. 20, 2003. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2004/0260291 A1, Dec. 23, 2004 | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 17/56 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 606—69 [606/73] | 18 Claims |
| 1. A method of tapping a bone plate intraoperatively, comprising:
selecting a bone plate having an aperture;
placing the bone plate on a bone;
forming a thread in the aperture using a tap device with the bone plate disposed on the bone;
forming a hole in the bone, the hole being in alignment with the aperture;
widening the hole adjacent the aperture to create a counterbore in the bone; and
advancing a fastener into threaded engagement with the thread after removal of the tap device from the aperture.
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